In the script of Star Trek, Chekov was once referred to, in a scene description, as being eighteen years old in 2258. However, a later reference in the scripted dialogue, which was retained in the movie and is the only line that establishes his age in the final version of the film, referred to him as seventeen in that year. Also in the script, Chekov had the middle initial "H." rather than the middle name "Andreievich". Additionally, in an ultimately unused line of dialogue from the script, he was referred to, by Kirk, as the Enterprise's tactical officer. [1]

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Pavel Chekov, son of Andrei Chekov, was born in 2241. Originating from Russia, he spoke with a heavy Eastern European accent, which caused him difficulty when speaking to Starfleet computer systems; his authorization code aboard the Enterprise – "9-5-Victor-Victor-2" – was particularly difficult for him to pronounce.

According to the script of Star Trek, Chekov graduated from Starfleet Academy at the age of seventeen. [2] The novel The Gemini Agent describes him as "the second-youngest freshman cadet in Starfleet Academy history."

Departing Earth's Starbase 1, CaptainChristopher Pike addressed Chekov as "Russian whiz-kid", ordering the ensign to use the comm to brief the Enterprise crew on the task at hand. As the Enterprise confronted Nero, Chekov used his superior mathematical skills to calculate the coordinates for beaming faster than the computer – allowing him to personally transport James T. Kirk and Hikaru Sulu back aboard the Enterprise before they fell into the singularity created on Vulcan by Nero.

Remaining in the transporter room, Chekov also transported Spock, Sarek and the surviving members of the Vulcan High Council from the surface of Vulcan. He was, however, unable to save Spock's mother, Amanda Grayson, before she fell to her death.

Chekov saves Kirk's and Sulu's lives

After the destruction of Vulcan, Chekov devised a way to beam Kirk and CommanderSpock to the Narada, without Nero knowing the Enterprise was in proximity to his ship. Chekov's plan required the Enterprise to drop out of warp near Titan, one of Saturn's moons, which hid the obscured the ship from the Romulans' sensors, allowing Kirk and Spock to successfully beam over undetected. Chekov's plan was ultimately instrumental in saving Earth.

After the defeat of Nero, Chekov served again as navigator under newly promoted Captain James T. Kirk and left with the crew to explore space. (Star Trek)

Before the Enterprise could reach its destination of Qo'noS, Chekov discovered a coolant leak in the warp core and was forced to drop the ship out of warp manually. Assured by Kirk that the coolant leak was likely the result of sabotage, Chekov succeeded in the repairing the warp drive, allowing the Enterprise to avoid an initial attack by Section 31's USS Vengeance. The Vengeance, however, was able to catch up to the Enterprise and quickly crippled the ship, sending it into Earth's gravitational pull.

Chekov back at his post and tracking Harrison

Catching a dangling Kirk and Scott before they plummeted to their deaths aboard the foundering Enterprise, Chekov reestablished the ship's power systems before it crashed into the surface, then retook his post on the bridge to aid in the hunt for and eventual capture of John Harrison.

In 2263, halfway through its five-year mission, the Enterprise docked for resupply at the Federation Starbase Yorktown. After receiving a mission to escort Kalara through the Necro Cloud in an attempt to find her crew, the ship was attacked by Krall's forces. In the midst of the battle, Chekov remained on the bridge helping the ship stay afloat as Captain Kirk hid an artifact known as the Abronath from the attackers and executed a saucer separation, so the saucer section could safely land on the surface of nearby planet Altamid. Chekov, along with Kirk, Kalara and Sulu, escaped from the ship in their Kelvin pods to the surface of Altamid.

On the planet's surface, Chekov landed in the same location as Kirk and Kalara. Given Chekov could not get any transmissions on his communicator, they decided to return to the crashed saucer to locate the stranded crewmembers. In the meantime, Chekov was ordered by Kirk to investigate on Kalara as he suspected of her intentions. He was proven right as Chekov traced her communications back to Krall, proving she had been working for him all along. As Kalara pointed a phaser to Kirk demanding an artifact he hid on the saucer, Chekov appeared behind her with a gun of her own. Krall's troops attacked, but Kirk and Chekov escaped by activating the Enterprise thrusters, causing an explosion which in turn killed Kalara and thrust them through the air as they made their getaway.

The next morning, Kirk and Chekov walked into one of multiple traps prepared by Jaylah, a scavenger who was living on the planet, but they were freed after Scotty told her they were friends of his. Jaylah revealed she had made the wreckage of a 22nd century Federation starship – the USS Franklin – her home and Chekov helped Scotty use the scanners to locate Spock and McCoy, who were beamed onboard. Using Chekov's trace from Kalara's communication and pinpointing it with a Vulcan amulet Spock had given Uhura, Kirk's team was able to learn the exact location of their former shipmates and formulate a plan to not only rescue them but also stop Krall before he attacked Yorktown.

Kirk wanted Chekov to be part of the extraction team, but Spock convinced the captain that the Ensign was better off helping Scotty fix the Franklin, to make sure the transporters could rescue the crew and also that the ship could fly again. Once all the crew was beamed aboard, Chekov seated at the helm with Sulu, who proceeded with some difficulty to fly the ship from the Altamid surface to a crash landing in Yorktown.

Following the defeat of Krall, Chekov and the crew of the late-USS Enterprise gathered in Yorktown to celebrate the birthday of Captain Kirk. He was seen flirting with an alien woman named Natalia, saying that Scotch whisky had been invented by "a little old lady from Russia." (Star Trek Beyond)

Anton Yelchin was unsure precisely why he was cast in the role of Chekov, though he figured it had to do with his young age and the fact that he was "familiar with Russian people. Very, very familiar." (His parents are Russian.) [4] During his audition, Yelchin had to try out his Russian accent, which included saying Chekov Prime's famous line from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home: "nuclear wessel". [5] When he took the role of Chekov, Yelchin signed on to reprise the character in a total of three Star Trek films. [6]

Despite appearing as Chekov in as many as three films, Anton Yelchin remained passionate about the role. "The character is so much fun to play, so I'm always game for it," commented Yelchin, shortly after completing his work on Star Trek Beyond. "It's interesting, because I've never had the experience of making three films in a row with the same people, and, most importantly, the same character, before. I grow as I learn. How I look at my work has changed. Every time, I get to apply these new ideas to the same character. That's the thing that excites me the most [....] Inevitably, I start drawing from other sources that I wasn't aware of when I was younger. I've been very fortunate to be playing this character, this joyous, fun role [....] I've developed a different way to look at work, and what I was trying to accomplish [when first playing Chekov]. The more my perspective on the actual process changes, the more different ways I look at my own work. Even this time versus last time, I viewed things another way, and borrowed from different things. That being said, I always try and accomplish a similar character. You can see what you've learned about yourself every time you go to work. It's kind of odd, but I like it." (Star Trek Magazine Movie Special 2016, pp. 84 & 87)

Remaining in character as Chekov wasn't always easy for Anton Yelchin. "It's a little hard to stay in character with Chekov throughout, because he's so goofy," he admitted. (Star Trek Magazine Movie Special 2016, p. 86)

Anton Yelchin once joked that, in Star Trek Beyond, Chekov, much to Kirk's disbelief, is revealed to be Croatian instead of Russia, though the actor then clarified, "No, that is not true." Aspects of Chekov's depiction in Beyond that Yelchin approved of included the character getting to leave the ship, which the actor compared to the occasions Chekov Prime left the USS Enterprise in TOS, and take part in some action sequences, which Yelchin enjoyed performing. "I probably have more action than in any of the previous two films," he reckoned. (Star Trek Magazine Movie Special 2016, pp. 86 & 87)

Following the tragic death of Anton Yelchin on 19 June2016, the alternate reality version of Chekov will not be recast. [7]Chekov Prime actor Walter Koenig approved of this decision, remarking, "I think it’s the right call; it’s paying Anton the most respect." [8]

In the screenplay of Star Trek, Chekov at one point physically fought with Kirk, about to stun him with Chekov's own phaser. However, he was assaulted by Kirk in retaliation, causing Chekov to drop his phaser, before Kirk was finally subdued by Spock. [9]

The decision to have Chekov, in Star Trek Beyond, become isolated with Kirk, away from the rest of the Enterprise crew, was made by Simon Pegg and Doug Jung, while they wrote the film together. "We liked the idea of the youngest and seemingly most naïve character pairing up with the slightly older statesman," said Pegg. (Star Trek Magazine Movie Special 2016, p. 77)

In the Star Trek video game, an audio log can be found in engineering where Chekov mentions he ran away at a young age to join Starfleet. One of the game's scenes involves the rescue of an injured Chekov, who must be helped to sickbay, but is still able to defend Kirk and Spock from the invading Gorn with his phaser.

According to the Star Trek iTunes movie app, Chekov was born in Tagnarog, Russia (the real-life home of Anton Chekhov). His mother's name was Anna (who is now deceased). His family spent several years at the Mare Imbrium colony on Luna. He graduated from Moscow State University in 2256, where he then enlisted in Starfleet, graduating from the Academy in 2258. It should be noted that he beat Big Blue in a game of 3D chess. Chekov received a special commendation for bravery in the line of duty during Enterprise's recent mission to Pollux IV.

According to the 2011Star Trek: Starfleet Academy novel "The Gemini Agent", Chekov liked to run on the academy grounds barefoot. Due to his youth, he was often treated like a little brother by the older girls in his dorm. He was also known in the underground web for being a white hat hacker.